Articles | Volume 13, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1877-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1877-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Jul 2019
Research article |
| 11 Jul 2019
| 11 Jul 2019
Buoyant forces promote tidewater glacier iceberg calving through large basal stress concentrations
Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, School of Geographical
Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
Antony J. Payne
Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, School of Geographical
Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
Stephen L. Cornford
Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, School of Geographical
Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
Twila Moon
National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0449, US
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Transition to marine ice cliff instability controlled by ice thickness gradients and velocity J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf6271
- Wave erosion, frontal bending, and calving at Ross Ice Shelf N. Sartore et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-249-2025
- Modeling ice cliff stability using a new Mohr–Coulomb-based phase field fracture model T. Clayton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.21
- Ablation rate of Perito Moreno Glacier assessed through the time integral of mass balance equation and remote sensing L. Stucchi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104917
- Wave erosion of ice cliffs: melt rate due to reflection of non-breaking surface waves A. Wolterman et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2026.11603
- Change in Antarctic ice shelf area from 2009 to 2019 J. Andreasen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2059-2023
- Effects of topography on dynamics and mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in southern Patagonia M. Minowa et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.42
- Application of a regularised Coulomb sliding law to Jakobshavn Isbræ, western Greenland M. Trevers et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5101-2024
- Stability of Ice Shelves and Ice Cliffs in a Changing Climate J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-040522-122817
- Numerical simulation of basal crevasses of the tidewater glacier with Galerkin least-squares finite element method H. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10665-024-10356-0
- Evaluating the importance of footloose-type failure in ice island deterioration modeling A. Crawford et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104325
- Calving front monitoring at a subseasonal resolution: a deep learning application for Greenland glaciers E. Loebel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3315-2024
- Viscous and elastic buoyancy stresses as drivers of ice-shelf calving C. Mosbeux et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.35
- Extracting Glacier Calving Fronts by Deep Learning: The Benefit of Multispectral, Topographic, and Textural Input Features E. Loebel et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2022.3208454
- Triggering mechanisms of dynamic mass loss at a freshwater-calving glacier in southern Patagonia M. Minowa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2026.119930
- The state and fate of Glaciar Perito Moreno Patagonia M. Koch et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02515-7
- Velocity and calving response of a major Greenland ice stream to a lake drainage event A. Wehrlé et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01858-2
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Transition to marine ice cliff instability controlled by ice thickness gradients and velocity J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf6271
- Wave erosion, frontal bending, and calving at Ross Ice Shelf N. Sartore et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-249-2025
- Modeling ice cliff stability using a new Mohr–Coulomb-based phase field fracture model T. Clayton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.21
- Ablation rate of Perito Moreno Glacier assessed through the time integral of mass balance equation and remote sensing L. Stucchi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104917
- Wave erosion of ice cliffs: melt rate due to reflection of non-breaking surface waves A. Wolterman et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2026.11603
- Change in Antarctic ice shelf area from 2009 to 2019 J. Andreasen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2059-2023
- Effects of topography on dynamics and mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in southern Patagonia M. Minowa et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.42
- Application of a regularised Coulomb sliding law to Jakobshavn Isbræ, western Greenland M. Trevers et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5101-2024
- Stability of Ice Shelves and Ice Cliffs in a Changing Climate J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-040522-122817
- Numerical simulation of basal crevasses of the tidewater glacier with Galerkin least-squares finite element method H. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10665-024-10356-0
- Evaluating the importance of footloose-type failure in ice island deterioration modeling A. Crawford et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104325
- Calving front monitoring at a subseasonal resolution: a deep learning application for Greenland glaciers E. Loebel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3315-2024
- Viscous and elastic buoyancy stresses as drivers of ice-shelf calving C. Mosbeux et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.35
- Extracting Glacier Calving Fronts by Deep Learning: The Benefit of Multispectral, Topographic, and Textural Input Features E. Loebel et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2022.3208454
- Triggering mechanisms of dynamic mass loss at a freshwater-calving glacier in southern Patagonia M. Minowa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2026.119930
- The state and fate of Glaciar Perito Moreno Patagonia M. Koch et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02515-7
- Velocity and calving response of a major Greenland ice stream to a lake drainage event A. Wehrlé et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01858-2
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 06 Jul 2026
Short summary
Iceberg calving is a major factor in the retreat of outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Massive block overturning calving events occur at major outlet glaciers. A major calving event in 2009 was triggered by the release of a smaller block of ice from above the waterline. Using a numerical model, we investigate the feasibility of this mechanism to drive large calving events. We find that relatively small perturbations induce forces large enough to open cracks in ice at the glacier bed.
Iceberg calving is a major factor in the retreat of outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet....
